Side-flexing conveyor module with detachable roller assembly

ABSTRACT

A link module suitable for use in a conveyor chain intended for travel along an intended direction on a given path. The module includes a first eye and a second eye adjacent the first eye. The eyes define a space therebetween. A roller assembly extends into the space and is detachably mounted between the first and second eyes.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/173,686 filed on Jul. 1, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,192.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to modular conveyor chains and belts and, more particularly, to such conveyor chains, and belts which include side-flexing capability.

Side-flexing conveyor chains comprising a plurality of modules are capable of traveling along a given path having a non-linear center line. As the conveyor chain follows the non-linear center line of the path, lateral forces force the modules against guide surfaces defining the conveyor path. The sliding engagement of the module with the guide surface generates additional frictional force which produces heat and increases tension in the chain, thus requiring increased drive energy and lowering efficiency.

Rollers having a horizontal or vertical axis of rotation and permanently mounted on one or more modules can be provided for engagement with the guide surfaces. The rollers reduce friction to lessen heat generation and power requirements. Due to the forces acting on the conveyor chain, the rollers are subject to damage which requires replacing the module having damaged rollers with modules having undamaged rollers. Replacing entire modules is inefficient and labor intensive. A need exists for quickly replacing rollers to minimize costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a link module for use in a conveyor chain intended for travel along an intended direction on a given path. The module includes a first eye and a second eye adjacent the first eye. The eyes define a space therebetween. A roller assembly extends into the space and is detachably mounted between the first and second eyes.

A general objective of the present invention is to provide a link module which does not require replacement if a roller is damaged. This objective is accomplished by providing the link module with a roller assembly detachably mounted to the link module. The detachably mounted roller assembly can be quickly and easily replaced whenever a roller forming part of the roller assembly is damaged.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conveyor chain incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the conveyor chain of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the conveyor chain of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an front elevation view of the spindle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partially exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a conveyor chain incorporating the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is front elevation view of another embodiment of the spindle of FIG. 1.

Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-3 disclose a modular conveyor chain or link belt 10 intended for travel along intended directions of conveyor movement on a given path having a central axis or center line. The modular conveyor chain or link belt 10 has laterally spaced and opposed sides 12 and 14, and has side-flexing capability. The conveyor chain or link belt 10 comprises a plurality of chain or hinge pins 16 which pivotally and serially interconnect a plurality of link modules including a first link module 18 and a second link module 22.

The link modules 18 and 22 can be fabricated from any suitable material in any suitable way. However, in the disclosed embodiments, the link modules 18 and 22 are both preferably molded of relatively hard plastic in a generally identical configuration or shape. The chain or hinge pins 16 can be constructed of any suitable material.

The first link module 18 includes a first plurality of laterally spaced inner eyes 24 which extend along the intended direction of conveyor travel and which respectively have therein laterally aligned first bores 26 receiving one of the chain pins 16. A laterally spaced outer eye 28 spaced laterally outwardly from the inner eyes 24 in opposing directions defines a space 32 between each outermost inner eye 24 and the adjacent outer eye 28. Each of the outer eyes 28 includes a laterally aligned bore 34 aligned with the inner eye bores 26. A second plurality of laterally spaced eyes 36 which are laterally offset from the first plurality of eyes 24 extend in the direction opposite to the direction of extension of the first plurality of eyes 24, which respectively have therein laterally aligned second bores 38, and which define therebetween a plurality of spaces 42.

The second link module 22 is substantially identical to the first link module 18 having first and second pluralities of eyes 24, 36, The spaces 42 defined by the second plurality of eyes 36 of the first link module 18 loosely receive the first plurality of eyes 24 of the second link module 22 in an interdigitating fashion, such the bores 26, 38 in the interdigitated eyes 24, 36 are aligned. The chain pin 16 is received through the aligned bores 26, 38 of the interdigitated eyes 24, 36 to pivotally link the link modules 18, 22 together.

One or both of the first and second transversely aligned series of bores 26, 38 is elongated in the direction of intended conveyor chain travel to accommodate side-flexing of the conveyer chain 10 while other constructions can be employed, in the conveyor chain 10, the bores 26 are of generally constant diameter, and the bores 38 are elongated in the direction of conveyor chain travel at a generally common distance to accommodate pivoting or side-flexing of the conveyor chain about either of the conveyor chain sides 12, 14.

Any suitable arrangement can be employed to advance the conveyor chain 10 along the associated given path. In the specifically disclosed construction, the underside of at least one of the first plurality of eyes 24 includes a driving recess including a surface 46 adapted to be engaged by the teeth of a driving sprocket (not shown).

The space 32 defined between the outer eye 28 and adjacent inner eye 24 of at least one of the modules 18, 22 receives a detachable roller assembly 62 that guides the chain 10 through a curved portion of the path. The detachable roller assembly 62 includes a spindle 64 including a base 66 received in the space 32. A roller 68 rotatably mounted on the spindle 64 engages a guide plate (not shown) forming part of the conveyor frame to guide the conveyor chain 10 along the path.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the spindle 64 includes the base 66 received in the space 32 and a downwardly extending shaft 72 upon which the roller 68 is rotatably mounted. A stop plate 74 interposed between the base 66 and shaft 72 abuts the outer eye 28 and adjacent inner eye 24 to position the spindle 64 relative to the bores 26, 34 and transfer forces acting on the spindle 64 to the eyes 24, 28, such that the forces do not dislodge the base 66 from the space 32. Of course, the stop plate 74 can be sized to transfer the forces directly to the module and/or additional eyes without departing from the scope of the invention. Preferably, the stop plate 74 is received in a recess 78 formed in the outer eye 28 and adjacent inner eye 24 to better transfer transverse forces to the eyes 24, 28.

Posts 76 extending laterally from the base 66 into the bores 26, 34 formed through the outer eye 28 and adjacent inner eye 24 detachably fix the spindle 64 relative to the eyes 24, 28. Advantageously, the posts 76 extend only a small distance into the bores 26, 34 which allows the spindle 64 to be easily removed from the space 32 by a punch, or other tool that forces the spindle 64 vertically causing the posts 76 to slightly deform at least one of the outer eye 28 and adjacent inner eye 24 as the posts 76 pass through the space 32. Advantageously, the posts 76 received in the bores 26, 34 prevent the chain pin 16 from slipping out of the remaining inner eye bores 26 through the outer eye bore 34, thus locking the chain pin 16 in place. In an alternative embodiment, a bore formed through the base 66 and aligned with the bores 26, 34 formed through the eyes 24, 28 receives the chain pin 16 to fix the spindle base 66 in the space 32.

The shaft 72 extends downwardly from the base 66 and is stepped having an upper diameter 82 adjacent the base and a smaller lower diameter 84 interposed between the upper diameter 82 and distal end 86 of the shaft 72. The roller 68 is rotatably mounted on the lower diameter 84 and abuts the step 88 defining the boundary between the upper and lower diameters 82, 84. A circumferential groove 92 formed in the lower diameter 84 proximal the shaft distal end 86 receives a C-clip 90 that axially locks the roller 68 onto the shaft 72. Of course, the roller 68 can be axially locked onto the shaft 72 using any method known in the art, such as fixing an inner race of the roller to the shaft, fixing an end cap or stop to the shaft distal end, and the like, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The roller 68 is preferably a bearing having an inner race 94 and an outer race 96. Bearing members (not shown), such as balls, interposed between the inner and outer races 94, 96 allow the outer race 96 to revolve around the shaft 72 independently of the inner race 94. An outer surface 98 of the outer race 96 is preferably covered with an elastomeric material, such as plastic, rubber, and the like, which engages the guide surface. Of course, the roller 68 can be a simple annular member through which the shaft 72 extends without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1-3, the roller is substantially cylindrical in which the outer surface 98 is uniformly radially spaced from an axis of rotation 102 for engaging a substantially vertical guide surface. However, the outer surface 98 can have any shape, such as conical for engaging an angled guide surface as shown in FIG. 5, rounded, stepped, and the like without departing from the scope of the invention. Advantageously, the conical or stepped surface includes a surface defining a plane that intersects the axis of rotation and can hold down the chain 10 by engaging a downwardly facing surface while guiding the chain 10 through a curved portion of the path. As shown in FIG. 5, a washer 106 interposed between the C-clip 90 and roller 68 can be provided to distribute axial forces acting on the C-clip 90.

Preferably, the roller 68 rotates about a vertical axis defined by the shaft 72. However, in an alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a roller assembly 162 includes a shaft 172 supporting a pair of parallel horizontally extending arms 178. A roller 168 is mounted between the pair of horizontally extending arms 178, and the roller 168 rotates about an axis 204 offset from the axis 202 defined by the shaft 172. Moreover, the roller 168 can be mounted having a non-vertical axis of rotation without departing from the scope of the invention. In this embodiment, the size of the roller 168 can be smaller compared to the roller 68 revolving around the shaft 72 of the spindle 64 shown in FIG. 4.

While there has been shown and described what are at present considered the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. 

We claim:
 1. A link module for use in a conveyor chain intended for travel along an intended direction on a given path, said module comprising: a first eye; a second eye adjacent said first eye and defining a space therebetween; and a roller assembly extending into said space, said roller assembly including a base and at least one post extending from said base and engaging one of said first eye and said second eye to detachably mount said roller assembly between said first and second eyes.
 2. The link module as in claim 1, in which said detachable roller assembly includes a roller rotatably mounted on a spindle detachably mounted between said first and second eyes.
 3. The link module as in claim 1, in which said detachable roller assembly includes a roller rotatably mounted between a pair of arms extending radially from a shaft.
 4. The link module as in claim 1, in which said detachable roller assembly includes a roller which rotates about an axis of rotation, and said roller includes a surface defining a plane intersecting said axis of rotation.
 5. The link module as in claim 1, in which said detachable roller assembly includes a roller which rotates about a substantially vertical axis of rotation.
 6. A roller assembly for use with a link module of a conveyor chain intended for travel along an intended direction on a given path, said roller assembly comprising: a base receivable in a space defined between eyes of the link module, said base including at least one post defining a post axis and engaging one of said first eye and said second eye to detachably mount said base in said space; a shaft extending downwardly from said base along a shaft axis; and a roller rotatably supported by said shaft; wherein said post axis and said shaft axis are not co-axial.
 7. The roller assembly as in claim 6, in which said roller revolves around said shaft.
 8. The roller assembly as in claim 6, in which said shaft includes a pair of horizontally extending arms, and said roller is rotatably mounted between said arms.
 9. The roller assembly as in claim 6 including a stop plate interposed between said base and said shaft.
 10. The link module as in claim 1, in which said at least one post is received in a bore formed in said one of said first eye and said second eye.
 11. The link as in claim 1, including a second post extending from said roller assembly engaging the other of said first eye and said second eye.
 12. A link module for use in a conveyor chain intended for travel along an intended direction on a given path, said module comprising: a first eye; a second eye adjacent said first eye and defining a space therebetween; and a roller assembly extending into said space and supporting a roller out of said space, said roller assembly defining a roller assembly axis; and a post extending along a post axis and engaged with said first eye and said roller assembly to detachably mount said roller assembly between said first and second eyes; wherein said roller assembly axis and said post axis are not co-axial.
 13. The link module as in claim 12, in which said post is a chain pin extending into bores formed in said roller assembly and said first and second eyes.
 14. The link module as in claim 12, in which said post is formed as an integral part of said roller assembly and extends from said roller assembly into a bore formed in one of said first eye and said second eye.
 15. The link module as in claim 12, in which said roller is rotatably mounted on a spindle detachably mounted between said first and second eyes.
 16. The link module as in claim 12, in which said roller is rotatably mounted between a pair of arms extending radially from a shaft.
 17. The link module as in claim 12, in which said roller rotates about an axis of rotation, and said roller includes a surface defining a plane intersecting said axis of rotation.
 18. The link module as in claim 12, in which said roller rotates about a substantially vertical axis of rotation. 